Red River High School to present 'Children of Eden' as first public performance since pandemic struck

Apr. 15—For several senior students at Red River High School, this spring's musical production is a fitting send-off — in its theme and message — as they move toward the end of a remarkably abnormal school year.

Red River High School is presenting the musical "Children of Eden," starting Friday, April 16 and continuing through Sunday, April 18.

This will be the first time since the pandemic hit in March 2020 that the general public will be able to attend a theatrical performance in person at the school, said Alexander Hovey, choir director.

Performances of the two-act play are set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 18, in the Performance Hall on the school's south side.

Tickets are available at www.spacompany.org/tickets . A live stream is also available, for $5, and may be accessed by going online to www.showtix4u.com/event-details/51023.

"Children of Eden," with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by John Caird, is based on the Book of Genesis, with the first act telling the story of Adam and Eve and their sons Cain and Abel, and the second act dealing with Noah and the flood.

The senior students in the play are keenly aware that this is their last performance in a major school theater production as high school students.

Collin Polasky, a senior who plays Cain, said, "I've always been doing shows but, especially this year, I wanted to make sure that a capstone on the senior year was doing something I enjoy doing, and throughout high school I've always made a lot of friends and memories through theater. You combine that with the fact that the story is a lot about connection and family and this idea of going off and parting ways at the end, it was a really kind of a touching moment that I, kind of, couldn't not do."

The play "is a lot about family," he said. "And the music department really does feel like a big family. So it's a very nice send-off, and it's really special to me."

The play, described as "a joyous and inspirational musical about parents, children and faith," explores the age-old conflict between parents and their children, according to a promotional website. Adam, Eve, Noah and the "Father" who created them, deal with the headstrong, cataclysmic actions of their respective children, in what's been called "a foot-stomping musical."

Several Red River High School students are performing roles in both acts, while Ethan Suriano, a senior, plays the role of "Father," or God, throughout the show.

"Children of Eden" has been popular among school theater groups for its bittersweet, but inspiring message that "the hardest part of love ... is letting go," according to a website.

Red River's directing team — Hovey, Alex Barta, choir director, and Adam Giebner, theater and speech teacher — had seen the show about eight years ago, Hovey said.

"We really liked the story — it's a great story, intertwining the Biblical tales into family structure and family hardships, things," Hovey said. "The way that the characters played out with the students that we have here at school right now, I think fit really well. Those are things we take into account.

"Also the music in the show is just incredible," he said, "and the three of us (directors) are all 'music people,' and so we're going to pick musicals that have really good music."

Ella Henry, a senior who plays Eve in the first act and Mama in the second, has been active in theater productions throughout her high school career. What she enjoys most is "the community of the entire theatre department," she said.

"As students, we're lucky enough to make those connections with other students and build a real family here. And we're all very grateful for all the directors, because they teach us new things and teach it in a fun and very insightful way that really gets the point across."

It may be the sense of community and the timeliness of this story, during the stresses of a pandemic, that made the play so appealing to Henry and other student actors.

"The entire story just — to me at least — shows family, it shows connection, which this year, more than anything, has been so important considering everything that's happened with COVID — just being around my friends and being able to have that experience with them," she said. "It really shows the dynamics of family and what that means to different people."

In this extraordinary school year, the importance of community and human connection is brought into clearer focus in "Children of Eden," Henry and others involved in the play said

"In some ways (the pandemic) has been difficult," Henry said, "but overall I've been very appreciative of the experience for what it's given in terms of learning how to appreciate people and appreciate your time with people, because you never know how long you're going to have it. So you always have to be grateful for the time you have with your friends and family."

Cast members include: Ethan Suriano, Grant Anderson, Ella Henry, Collin Polasky, Taylor Hartze, Haley Wood and Morgan McIntosh, all seniors, and Jasper Ortiz and Cooper Miller, juniors. Isaac Richter and Ben Muhlenkort, fifth- and fourth-grade students at Ben Franklin Elementary, play the young Cain and Abel, respectively.

Polasky said his role as Cain "has actually been a really interesting part to play. He fits a role of this angsty teenager, which has been an interesting experience. I'm typically more reserved, so it's been a fun time trying to figure out that different side and play that up. It's been a really fun time."

Performing in the play has afforded him the opportunity for personal growth.

"It has definitely helped me to be able to better understand and show my emotions. Especially with masks this year, it's a little hard to get a read on people — to catch what people are thinking or saying or their emotions," he said.

Due to the safety protocols students and staff have been following, the actors will not wear masks during the performances.

"It's a really nice touch to be able to see people smile again," he said. "We're all pretty excited about it."

Many of the students who perform in plays and musicals at Red River have been involved with theater, including SPA or school shows, since elementary school, Hovey said.

"If you put all of our students together, they've all been part of hundreds of productions throughout their lives," he said. "We're pretty lucky to have such great theater and music support and opportunities in our community."

Other cast members include "storytellers": Ashley Berger, Becca Bradbury, Eliza Dodds, Jada Jensen, Lola Lucke, Tatum Mosley, Ryan Nordhagen, Ryan Polasky, Brian Rains, Lauren Rydland and Larz Voth. Ensemble members are: Nick Bouvette, Jaedon Brassy, Kevin Chaves, Liz Corcoran, Emmalyn Danielson, Claudia Dunnick, Brooke Donacki, Reagan Gaukler, Hannah Holte, Amirah Hurst, Ginny Hutton, Quinn Jenkins, Meredith McCarthy, Reilly McIntosh, Joy Onyeka, Sadie Page, Jenna Post, Courtney Rhondeau, Anika Suriano and Halle Wavra.

Also working on the production are: Leigha Wallin, choreographer; Kaili Courtney and Ella Walker, student directors; and costumes — Amy Sanner, Allison Peterson, Emmalyn Danielson and Reagan Gaukler; lights — Carston Swanson and Jack Parrish; sound — Eliot Schumacher; spotlights — Cooper Schweigert, Dylan Solland, Natalie Heath, Houston Gonzalez and Matty Moe; video — Cosette Clements, Mikko Villas, Manan Chaturvedi and Tessa Sanner; theater technician — Jake Geffre; and box office and public relations — Allison Peterson.

Due to budget cuts and limitations imposed by COVID, student instrumentalists will not perform for this show. Instead, a musical soundtrack, provided by the rights and the royalties company, will be used, Hovey said.